UK’s Car magazine has an interview with Porsche R&D chief Wolfgang Dürheimer. In the interview, Dürheimer dishes on some details on the next Boxster/Cayman (981) and the next 911 (991).

Dürheimer says the 981 Boxster/Cayman will (as expected) share many parts with the 991 911, and goes into more details about the 911 itself. The design will be evolutionary, as is common with Porsche, and when pressed, he gives some specifics:

There is no more need for old-fashioned protruding door mirrors, the pending pedpro [pedestrian protection] requirements will force us to make relatively obvious alterations to the nose of the car, and for aerodynamic reasons we are also going to reshape the rear end. But apart from these must-dos, we won’t tamper with the proportions of a true classic.

But it sounds like the biggest changes will be under the skin. Dürheimer mentions active aerodynamics, chassis improvements focusing on active safety, CO2 reductions, and more.

After reading this article, though, the big worry I have is that the 991 (and possibly the 981?) might lose some of their sportiness and further drift into the luxury zone. This quote was particularly troubling to me:

On the one hand, I still want purism like the feel of every loose chipping through the rim of the steering wheel. But on the other hand, marketing urges me to fit a parking aid complete with rear-mounted camera and beeper.

I really think Porsche needs to get back to lightweight and sporty, but that’s just me.

To read the interview, click here.

[source: Car]

What they’re saying is that 60% of the stuff we’ve made is so desirable, so well put together, so well designed, that people are still using them. What if 60% of all computers made were still in use and not in junkyards in China? What if 60% of all plastic water bottles we carry around made were still in use and not in dumps? Coffee cups? You get the picture.

Terrett’s blog entry which prompted Nussbaum’s article proposed that products that are designed well, like Porsches, produce less waste, and help the planet. And he thinks some of these great designers can help in other areas too.

Again, from Terrett’s blog:

In the FTSE 100 38% of CEO’s have an accounting background, 23% sales 18% general management (whatever that means) 0% have design backgrounds. I want people with design backgrounds to be CEO’s and CFO’s and CMO’s and town planners and air traffic controllers and European Commissioners.

So what do you think, is he on to something?

[source: Noisy Decent Graphics via Business Week]

From the review:

911 Turbo not hard enough? Then how about removing the four-wheel drive, sir? Want to smash the magical 200mph barrier? Soak in the GT2′s 204mph v-max and quake in your boots. Oh, and it has semi-slick Cup tyres too. Make no mistake, the GT2 isn’t for fools.

But they did say that whether the GT2 was worth the premium over the 911 Turbo is open for debate, as the edgy handling make everyday driving a bit of a chore.

Click here for the full report. Oh, and boy does that rear end look great.

[source: Car Online]

Recently, a customer took one of the rental Porsches to the Nurburgring and drove it so hard that all four tires needed replacement.

Seriously, with the way most people drive rental cars, why would you even rent out Porsches in the first place?

[source: Motor Authority]

Timothy Brady, 33, was clocked driving more than 100 mph over the speed limit in a 911 he was driving that belonged to the courtesy car firm where he worked as a delivery driver. Apparently, this makes him the fastest speeder ever caught by speed gun or camera in Britain.

He faces a maximum sentence of two years in jail, and the court can also hand out an unlimited fine.

[source: Daily Mail]